Alfie the Musical – London College of Music

Sophie Towns, just one of many impressive talents in the London College of Music production of Alfie the Musical at the University of West London

Alfie the Musical is performed by London College of Music BA Musical Theatre third-year students at the University of West London, Ealing until 22 November.

The musical version of one of the landmark films of the swinging sixties has been given a fair few tweaks since last seen at Watford’s Palace Theatre nine years ago when Darren Day played the role that made Michael Caine a star.

That production met with a mixed reception but it’s hard to think why because Eden Phillips’ book and witty lyrics (from Bill Naughton’s racy-for-its-time novel) and John Cameron’s catchy music provide, in this reincarnation, a cracking evening full of tuneful ballads and lively ensemble numbers that would not look out of place in the West End (and be a distinct improvement on Dance ’Til Dawn).

Director David Henson sets the period immediately with key voices from the time and a back-screen montage – the Beatles and Stones, Kenneth Wolstenholme’s unforgettable words when England won the World Cup (“they think it’s all over… it is now”), Henry Cooper’s big moment against Cassius Clay, the Profumo scandal, Twiggy, Ravi Shankar, Harold Wilson’s devaluation speech, the assassination of President Kennedy.

Making hay through all of this is Alfie Elkins, a Jack-the-lad chauffeur with a youthful bravado and unchecked sexual swagger who beds as many women as he can lay his hands on with no feeling for them, and damn the consequences.

But what starts as a comedy turns into a dark tale of abortions, shattered lives and a richly deserved come-uppance as the mistreated women bite back, spitting out the now-slightly-paunchy Lothario as yesterday’s man.

There’s a huge amount of talent in this London College of Music company with the terrific voice and acting skills of Ariane Sallis, as Gilda, the sweet-natured, put-upon girlfriend with whom Alfie has a child but can’t handle the responsibility, standing out. It would be a pleasure to see and hear her again.

Leah Godbold, as Annie the girl from Barnsley he steals from his best mate who fattens him up with too much pie and TLC, is also impressive, Jessica Amy Mullock has a strong, likeable voice as Siddie, the more mature married woman who eventually tosses Alfie aside for a fitter, younger model (Craig Kenneth Smith with an enviable six-pack), and Sophie Towns tears the heartstrings with her solo ‘Easy’.

As Lily, the wheelchair-bound Harry’s wife who falls prey to Alfie’s dubious charms, Towns superbly invokes that haunting scene from the 1966 film when the struck-off backstreet doctor, memorably played by Denholm Elliott, aborts Vivien Merchant’s unwanted baby and Alfie, seeing the bloody foetus, cracks, finally realising it’s time to grow up and that life is real, life is earnest.

But excellent as this quartet of girls are, and most of the supporting cast – the Chelsea Girls in cowgirl outfits a sight for sore eyes (great choreography by Emma Evans and costumes by Mike Leopold) – the story can only truly work if Alfie is an irresistible, love-’em-and-leave’-em, never-look-back cheeky chappie who can charm all manner of birds off the trees and into his bed.

Sadly, although he works hard and sings decently, Kiefer Bryson’s characterisation is undercooked and short on wow factor.

Still, this is a most appealing show, well up to the standard of Merrily We Roll Along (performed in May by last year’s third-year students), with some smashing songs like ‘Your Turn Now’, ‘I Call It Love’, ‘In the Driving Seat’ and ‘Look At You’ that deserve to be better known. In fact, there isn’t a dud among the 28 well played by a band of five under musical director Matt Ramplin and I would cheerfully go again tomorrow.

Jeremy Chapman